Handheld device and method for arranging items positioned on a display shelf

ABSTRACT

A device for manually arranging items positioned on a display shelf includes a handle portion, an elongated middle portion extending outwardly from the handle portion and an end portion which is formed generally perpendicular to a distal end of the middle portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/701,202 filed Jul. 21, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to managing shelf space and, more particularly, this invention relates to a handheld device and method for arranging items positioned on a display shelf.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One problem that is constantly encountered in managing shelf space is that consumers often pick up and inspect, move or drop products removed from the shelves thus necessitating frequent straightening of these items.

Furthermore, items are generally removed from the front portion of the shelf and must be restocked from the rear portion of the shelf in order to better control product expiration dates. With vertical distances between adjacent shelves being generally sized to hold only one horizontal layer of items, straightening and restocking the items often requires a greater than desired effort preventing employees from performing other necessary tasks and subsequently reducing employee productivity.

Prior to the present invention, employees have been straightening the items displayed on the shelf by using their hands and reaching toward the rear edge of the shelf in order to move items towards the front edge prior to placing new items at the rear edge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a device for manually arranging items positioned on a display shelf. The device includes a handle portion and an elongated middle portion which extends outwardly from the handle portion. An end portion is formed generally perpendicular to a distal end of the middle portion.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of manually arranging items positioned on a display shelf. The method includes a step of providing a device having a first elongated portion and a second portion which is formed generally perpendicular to the first portion. Then, vertically positioning the second portion adjacent a front edge of the shelf. Next, moving the device towards the rear edge of the shelf. Rotating the second portion into the horizontal position and placing it behind the rearmost items positioned on the shelf. Finally, moving the device and the items toward the front edge of the shelf.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a device and method for arranging items positioned on a display shelf.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and method for arranging items positioned on a display shelf which improve employee productivity.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for arranging items positioned on a display shelf which employs an L-shaped member enabling ease of reaching the items positioned at the rear edge of the shelf.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for arranging items positioned on a display shelf which is convenient to carry.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a device for arranging items positioned on a display shelf which employs telescopic sections enabling adjusting the overall length of the device in relationship to the shelf depth.

In addition to the several objects and advantages of the present invention which have been described with some degree of specificity above, various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a handheld device for arranging items positioned on a display shelf according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a handheld device for arranging items positioned on a display shelf according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is partial sectional view of the device of FIG. 2, particularly showing a telescopic locking arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is partial sectional view of the device of FIG. 2, particularly showing a telescopic locking arrangement according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a telescopic locking arrangement according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Now refer to FIG. 1 wherein there is illustrated a device, generally designated 10, for manually arranging items 8 positioned on a display shelf 2. The device 10 includes a handle portion 12 and an elongated middle portion 20 which is attached to and extends outwardly from the handle portion 12. The handle portion 12 may be provided with a grip means 14 formed preferably from a plastic or elastomeric material and adapted with ridges 16 for fitting a user's hand. The device 10 preferably includes a key chain loop 17 attached to a predetermined portion of the device 10 at an end of the handle section 12. To provide for convenience in carrying device 10, a fastener 19 such as a locking carabiner or an alligator clip (not shown) is attached to the key chain loop 17.

An optional end portion 30 (FIG. 2) is formed generally perpendicular at a distal end 21 of the middle portion 20. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the device 10 is preferably formed as a unitary member. The material of such device 10 is of metal, plastic, wood and various combinations thereof. Preferably, the device 10 is formed as a unitary member from a tubular material. It is further preferred that such tubular material is a cylinder.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the middle portion 20 is rigid and its length is preselected to position the end portion 30 in close proximity to a rear edge 4 of such display shelf 2 when the handle portion 12 is positioned at a predetermined distance external to a front edge 6 of such display shelf 2. Such distance will be predetermined based on the depth of the shelf 2 to reduce the need for the user to bend in order to reach the rearmost items 8 positioned on the shelf 2. It has been determined that a device 10 having a combined length of the handle portion 12 and the middle portion 20 of about 2 feet is advantageous in achieving the above objective. It should be appreciated that the cross-sectional width of the middle portion 20 and the width and the length of the end portion 30 will be determined based on the size and weight of items 2 to be moved.

According to another embodiment of the invention (shown in FIG. 2), the middle portion 20 includes an elongated base section 22 and at least one and preferably a pair of telescopically interfitted elongated sections 24, wherein the elongated base section 22 is one of attached and integral to the handle portion 12 and wherein one of the plurality of telescopically interfitted elongated sections 24 includes the distal end 21 of the middle portion 20, and wherein the plurality of telescopically interfitted elongated sections 24 are movable along a common longitudinal axis between a collapsed and an extended position. Accordingly, the length of the device 10 may be adjusted according to the depth of the shelf 2.

When the middle portion 20 is formed by a plurality of telescopic interfitted elongated sections 24, the device 10 may be adapted with a locking means, generally designated 40 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), for selectively securing each telescopic section 24 in one of the extended and the collapsed position. Such locking means 40 may be one of any type locking designs presently used with telescopic elongated members.

Now in a particular reference to FIG. 3, there is illustrated one embodiment of such locking means 40 which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,987 issued Jan. 10, 1984 to Ryder. The teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,987 are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Briefly, the locking means 40 of this embodiment is illustrated in combination with a tubular base section 22 and a tubular first elongated section 24 which is slideably received within the base section 22.

The locking means 40 includes slots 44, 46 which are disposed in a radially inwardly extending flange 42 of the end 23 of the base section 22 which is disposed opposite the handle portion 12. The flange 42 has an internal bore which cooperates with the exterior surface of the first telescopic elongated section 24.

The first telescopic elongated section 24 includes a radially outwardly extending flange 48 in which are carried first and second elongated pins 50, 52. Each of the pins 50, 52 is provided with a bulbous head. These heads are identified by the numerals 50A and 52A. Each of the pins 50, 52 is further provided with a shoulder, respectively, identified by the numerals 50B and 52B. Each pin 50, 52 is dimensioned for sliding axial movement with respect to a bore in the flange 32. Coil springs 54, 56 cooperate with the axial extremity of each pin 50, 52 to bias it in a direction away from the cooperating slot 44 or 46.

Another embodiment of the locking means 40 illustrated in FIG. 4 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,430, issued Feb. 20, 1996 to Jones. The teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,430 are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

Briefly, the locking means 40 of this embodiment includes an end fitting 58 which is fixedly secured to the open end 23. The end fitting 58 is basically in the shape of a ring. The end fitting 58 also includes an interior conical surface 63. The end fitting 58 is located in a close conforming manner within an internal chamber 62 of a housing 64. The housing 64 is basically a cylindrical sleeve which terminates at one end in a rear wall 66 and at an enlarged cap 68 at the forward portion of the housing 64. A coil spring 70 is located within the internal chamber 62 and caged between the rear wall 66 and the end fitting 58.

A collet 72 is fixedly mounted within the cap 68. The collet 72 includes an enlarged flange 74 which is mounted within a groove 76 of the cap 78. The collet 72 is constructed of an elastomeric material such as rubber or rubberized plastic. The collet 72 includes an interior cylindrical surface 78, an outer conical surface 80 and a series of longitudinally oriented, V-shaped slots 82.

There can be any number of slots 82 such as four to six or any other desirable number. The slots 82 divide the collet 72 into a plurality of fingers 84. Each of the fingers 84 is capable of being deflected slightly toward the first telescopic elongated section 24. Upon contact occurring between surfaces 80 and 63, the generated radial forces are located near the top of the fingers 84 rather than closer to enlarged flange 74. Deflection of the tip of the fingers 84 is easier than deflection at the middle of the fingers 84. This means that a lower amount of load is required to achieve the locking action.

Mounted directly against the outer surface of the flange 74 of the collet 72 is a washer 86. A lock ring 88 abuts against the washer 86 with the lock ring 88 being mounted within a groove 90 formed within the cap 68. It is a function of the lock ring 88 to securely hold in place the collet 72.

The housing 64 is capable of limited longitudinal axial movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal center axis 92. The axis 92 is actually the coinciding longitudinal center axes of the base section 22 and the first telescopic elongated section 24. The movement of the housing 64 is from the retracted position to the extended position. Movement from the retracted position to the extended position is to be accomplished manually which will then permit the inner first telescopic elongated section 24 to be moved longitudinally relative to the outer base section 22 in the direction of arrow 94.

Regardless of whether the housing 64 is in the extended or retracted position, the inner first telescopic elongated section 24 can always be moved in an extended or outward position which would be in a direction opposite of arrow 94.

The locking action is produced by the transfer of force at the mating conical surfaces 63 and 80. The radial loads cause the conical fingers 84 to deflect inward in tight contact with the outer surface of the inner telescopic elongated section 24. The spring 70 is used to preload the locking device thus insuring initial contact between the collet 72 and the inner telescopic elongated section 24. The load of the spring 70 need only be sufficient to deflect the collet fingers 84 into contact with the inner telescopic elongated section 24.

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the locking means 40 of a quick coupling type, wherein a bushing 102 is fixedly fastened to the bottom end 23 of the base section 22. A tapered, threaded connector 104 is fixedly fastened to the top end of the elongated telescopic section 24, and a split, peripherally embossed screw cap 106 is threaded onto the threaded connector 104 and rotated relative to the connector 104 between a first position where the screw cap 106 is radially expanded and forced into engagement with the inside wall of the base section 22 to stop the telescopic elongated section 24 from axial movement relative to the base section 22, and a second position where the screw cap 106 is released from the inside wall of the base section 22 for enabling the telescopic elongated section 24 and the base section 22 to be moved axially relative to each other.

Such embodiment of the quick coupling locking arrangement is basically disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,614 issued on Oct. 16, 2001 to Tseng and the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,614 are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

In operation, to manually arrange a plurality of preselected items 8 positioned on a display shelf 2 in at least one of a column and a row manner, the end portion 30 is vertically positioned adjacent the front edge 6 of the display shelf 2 and adjacent the plurality of preselected items 8. Then, the device 10 is moved toward the rear edge 4 of the display shelf 2. Next, the end portion 30 is positioned adjacent the rear edge 4 of the display shelf 2 and behind a rearmost one of the plurality of preselected items 8. The end portion 30 is rotated into a horizontal position for placement behind the rearmost one of the plurality of preselected items 8.

Finally, the device 10 and the plurality of preselected items 8 caged by the end portion 30 are moved toward the front edge 6 of display shelf 2. The middle portion 20 may be moved laterally either during or after moving the device 10 toward the front edge 6 to align the plurality of preselected items 8 in the column manner.

It will be understood, that the above described method is advantageous for restocking items 8 on the display shelf 2 by moving the presently positioned items 8 forward in order to aid management control of the expiration dates.

When the items 8 are to be simply aligned or straightened on the display shelf 2 without the need of moving them toward the front edge 6, the device 10 may be simply formed by the handle portion 12 and straight portion 20 and without the perpendicular end portion 30. The method of manually aligning the items 8 includes the step of positioning the distal end 21 of the straight portion 20 adjacent the front edge 6 of the display shelf 2 and adjacent the plurality of preselected items 8 to be straighten or aligned.

Then, moving the device 10 toward the rear edge 4 of the display shelf 2. Next, positioning the distal end 21 adjacent the rear edge 4 of the display shelf 2 and adjacent a rearmost one of the plurality of items 8. Finally, laterally moving the device 10 to align the plurality of preselected items 8 in the column manner.

Although the present invention has been shown in terms of the locking means 40 of FIGS. 3-5, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that any other locking arrangement for locking telescopically interfitted members may be employed in the present invention.

Thus, the present invention has been described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. It will be understood that variations, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for components of the specifically described embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 

1. A handheld device for aiding in manually arranging items positioned on a display shelf, said device comprising: (a) a handle portion; (b) an elongated middle portion extending outwardly from said handle portion; and (c) an end portion formed generally perpendicular to a distal end of said middle portion.
 2. The device, according to claim 1, wherein a length of said middle portion is preselected to position said end portion in close proximity to a rear edge of such display shelf when said handle portion is positioned at a predetermined distance from a front edge of such display shelf.
 3. The device, according to claim 1, wherein said middle portion is rigid.
 4. The device, according to claim 1, wherein said middle portion includes a plurality of telescopically interfitted elongated sections which are movable along a common longitudinal axis between a collapsed and an extended position, and wherein said plurality of telescopically interfitted elongated sections form a plurality of outer sections having a bottom end and a plurality of inner sections having a top end.
 5. The device, according to claim 4, wherein said device includes a locking means for selectively securing each pair of an outer section and an inner section in one of an extended and a collapsed position.
 6. The device, according to claim 5, wherein said locking means includes a tapered, threaded connector fixedly fastened to said top end of said inner section, a split, peripherally embossed screw cap threaded onto said threaded connector and rotatable relative to said connector between a first position wherein said screw cap is radially expanded and forced into engagement with an inside wall of said outer section to stop said inner section from axial movement relative to said outer section and a second position wherein said screw cap is released from said inside wall of said outer section for enabling said inner section and said outer section to be moved axially relative to each other.
 7. The device, according to claim 5, wherein said locking means includes: (a) a radially inwardly extending flange formed in said bottom end of said outer section, said flange having a bore therein dimensioned and configured for engagement with an exterior surface of said inner section; (b) a radially outwardly extending flange formed about said top edge of said inner section, said flange having a circumferential surface dimensioned and configured for engagement with said interior bore of said inwardly extending flange of said bottom end; (c) a pin means carried on one of said flanges; and (d) a slot means defined in an opposed one of said flanges and configured and sized for engagement with said pin means, said pin means being selectively engageable in said slot means for locking engagement between said flanges to prevent relative axial movement between said outer and said inner sections.
 8. The device, according to claim 5, wherein said locking means includes: (a) a housing which is disposed about said outer section adjacent said bottom end thereof, said housing being slidably movable between an extended position and a retracted position on said outer section in a direction along a longitudinal center axes, said housing having an internal annular chamber disposed about said outer section; (b) an end fitting fixedly mounted on said outer section at said bottom end thereof, said end fitting having a first conical surface, said first conical surface being spaced from said bottom end of said outer section; (c) a biasing means located within said internal annular chamber, said biasing means applying a biasing force between said end fitting and said housing in a direction parallel to said longitudinal center axes, said biasing means tending to locate said housing in said retracted position; and (d) an elastomeric and immovable collet fixedly mounted on said housing, said collet being located within said internal annular chamber, said collet in binding engagement with said inner section and said end fitting once said housing is in said retracted position preventing sliding movement between said inner section and said outer section, wherein upon manual movement of said housing to said extended position said collet is located spaced from said end fitting without being in binding position with said inner section and permitting longitudinal sliding movement of said inner section relative to said outer section.
 9. The device, according to claim 4, wherein one of said telescopic elongated sections is one of attached and integral to said handle portion.
 10. The device, according to claim 4, wherein one of said telescopic elongated sections includes said distal end of said middle portion.
 11. The device, according to claim 1, wherein said device includes a key chain loop attached to a predetermined portion of said device.
 12. The device, according to claim 11, wherein said device includes a locking carabiner attached to said key chain loop.
 13. The device, according to claim 1, wherein said device further includes a grip means attached to said handle portion.
 14. The device, according to claim 1, wherein a material of said device is one of metal, plastic, wood and various combinations thereof.
 15. The device, according to claim 1, wherein said device is formed as a unitary member.
 16. The device, according to claim 15, wherein said device is formed from a tubular material.
 17. A method of manually arranging a plurality of preselected items positioned on a display shelf, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a handheld device having a first elongated member and a second elongated member which is attached generally perpendicular to one end of said first elongated member; (b) positioning said second member adjacent a front edge of said display shelf and adjacent said plurality of preselected items; (c) moving said device toward a rear edge of said display shelf; (d) positioning said second member adjacent said rear edge of said display shelf and behind a rearmost one of said plurality of preselected items; (e) positioning said second member into a horizontal position for placement behind said rearmost one of said plurality of preselected items; and (f) moving said device and said plurality of preselected items toward said front edge of said display shelf to align said preselected plurality of items in at least a row manner.
 18. The method, according to claim 17, wherein said method further includes the step of laterally moving said first member to align said plurality of preselected items in said column manner.
 19. A method of manually aligning a plurality of preselected items positioned on a display shelf, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an elongated handheld device having a predetermined length which enables positioning a first end of said device in close proximity to a rear edge of such display shelf when an opposed second end of said device is positioned at a predetermined distance away from a front edge of such display shelf; (b) positioning said first end adjacent a front edge of said display shelf and adjacent said plurality of preselected items; (c) moving said device toward a rear edge of said display shelf; (d) positioning said first end adjacent said rear edge of said display shelf and adjacent a rearmost one of said plurality of items; and (e) laterally moving said device in relationship to said shelf to align said plurality of preselected items in at least a column manner. 